Mrs. Esther Vaughn, after 77 years, was "beckoned by the Master" on Monday evening, June 27, 2016 from Muskogee.
His Lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant and these are the words we are confident the Lord spoke to Esther as she entered Paradise… Esther Patricia Lee Williams was born to Bertha Williams and Hermease Bennett in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, on March 28, 1939. She was the eldest of two children.
Esther was raised in DeFuniak Springs, Florida and attended Tivoli Schools 1st-12th grades. Her post-secondary experiences included Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) and the University of Maryland. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and joined St. Joseph AME Church, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. After relocating she became a faithful member of Hainerberg Chapel in Wiesbaden, Germany and then later in life until her passing was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Esther loved to read, travel, cook and spend time with her family. One spring day, in the early 60’s she went to take a picture to obtain a passport. Little did she know her photographer would become the love of her life and together they created an array of lifetime pictures! Deary and Esther were later married and they put their passports to use, moving her from Florida, to Kansas and then to Europe where they would spend over two decades traveling, establishing lifelong friendships and serving the community through their church and masonic affiliations. After her husband retired, the couple decided to make Muskogee their home.
Esther possessed a willing true servants’ heart, true to her word, without fail. You could always depend on her to help others. Some of her civic affiliations included: Seated Grand Worthy Matron, Queen Bathsheba Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, PHA, Oklahoma; Past District Deputy Grand Worthy Matron, District 8, Western Europe; Past Most Ancient Matron, Rahab # 5, Heroines of Jericho, Western Europe; Past Loyal Lady Ruler, Mary James Assembly No. 304; Order of Golden Circle, Western Europe; Past Illustrious Commandress, Aswan Court No. 152, Western Europe; Founder, George B. Swanson Charitable Foundation, Western Europe; President-Elect, Civitan International; Muskogee County Democratic Party; Deaconess, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.
During her lifetime, she had the privilege of working in many service oriented positions. In Europe she worked as a USO Coordinator for the Department of Defense. In Muskogee she gladly mentored and mothered student athletes at Bacone College and then went on to work for the Department of Corrections at Eddie Warrior Correctional Facility where she retired in 2010 after 20 plus years of service.
She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband, Dr. Deary Vaughn; three daughters, Cassandra Conner-Vaughn, Sonya Vaughn and Latricia (Lou) Vaughn-Dawkins; eight grandchildren, Blake Vaughn-Brown, LaQuillia Vaughn, Dimitri Vaughn, Christian Vaughn-Dawkins, Dacia Conway, Hailee Vaughn–Dawkins, Damien Vaughn and Elijah Dawkins; one sister, Debra Hill; sister and brother-in-law, Jean (Clint) Douglas, and Estee (Ella) Vaughn; a special uncle, Charles (Betty) Williams; a special nephew, Deary Hill; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother Bertha Smith, Her father, Hermease Bennett; one son, Franklin Conner-Vaughn; one daughter, Shanda Vaughn; one grandson, Dorian Dawkins; her paternal and maternal grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends.
The Hour of Tribute will commence on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. in the Antioch Baptist Church, 500 West Broadway in Muskogee. Dr. Marlon J. Coleman, Pastor, will Preside.
Entombment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum.
You may visit Mrs. Vaughn, as she slumbers in sweet repose at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
The Eastern Star Memorial Ceremonies will begin at 6:00 PM at the Antioch Baptist Church.
Visitation on Saturday will begin at 11:30 AM until 12:45 PM. Friends are asked to assemble in the sanctuary by 12:45 PM to receive the family. The Casket will not be opened at the end of the service.
Mrs. Esther Vaughn, after 77 years, was "beckoned by the Master" on Monday evening, June 27, 2016 from Muskogee.
His Lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant and these are the words we are confident the Lord spoke to Esther as she entered Paradise… Esther Patricia Lee Williams was born to Bertha Williams and Hermease Benne